Maintaining your Marine Diesel Engine and System

Reliable and Robust

Simple, regular maintenance is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to avoid problems and accelerated engine wear. Most expensive repairs start from a lack of basic maintenance or ignoring small warnings. The work is not difficult - it just needs to be done.

The purpose is to make the whole diesel system reliable and robust – so that we can enjoy our boat for all the reasons we bought her.

Trust yourself. Do the work regularly and be methodical.

Know your boat. Take full responsibility. Don’t assume that because something was installed by a previous owner or the boatbuilder that it’s correct or correctly installed. Some boatbuilders, as well as owners, have been known to cut corners.

Can you afford cheap? Quality components rarely fail suddenly (unless the boat hits something). Using quality parts and supplies, and doing the job right the first time,usually saves money in the long run as well as aggravation. Pay now or pay later.

Cultivate vigilance as a habit. Take heed of a warning that something is not right – a new sound, less water in the exhaust, a nut or washer under the engine. A keen eye goes a long way to being able to spot potential problems before they become trouble.

The “diesel engine” is a system. All the parts need to work together and to be in balance. Problems arise when they’re not. Neglecting any one area (perhaps because it’s too hard to reach) may well have effects that show up somewhere else.

Engine Maintenance Log is an important to preventing trouble

Value of the Maintenance Log

One of the most important, and easiest, ways to ensure the health and longevity of all mechanical equipment on a boat is keep a Maintenance Log. The more comprehensive and detailed, the more useful the logbook becomes over time:

A Maintenance Log has four main functions:

early warning of potential problems. Most problems develop slowly and are often simple to correct if caught early

time and details of any changes in performance

recording details of work done and equipment serviced

system history – what was done, when, how and by whom

A plain A4 or Letter-sized notebook makes a practical Log. Divide each double page spread into four columns: